FR2491596A1 - Portable solar water heater - has snap-on transparent outer covers which pack into each other when dismantled - Google Patents

Abstract

The solar water heater has a central fluid container whose outer surfaces comprise the absorber and have a heat absorbing coating. The container has beading on each face onto which snaps the transparent outer covers. The outer covers serve as insulators and support for the container and a space is defined by them. The inner surfaces of the edges of the outer covers have a reflective coating. The container is filled through the stopper and can be positioned to suit the angle of the sun.

Description

The invention relates to solar thermal sensors in which receiving surfaces are protected by transparent walls,
In known devices of this kind, absorbent receiving surfaces heat up under the effect of solar radiation. They are coated with a dark color, or with a film consisting of a selective material. They can be placed in a formwork ensuring thermal insulation and having walls transparent to solar radiation. the radiation received by the absorbent surfaces can be reinforced by reflective surfaces. In most insulators, the heat acquired is dissipated by a heat transfer fluid. It can also be used inside the device. This is the case for air insolatellrs designed for drying grains and fruits. There are also known water heaters consisting of a simple container having an absorbent wall.

 These devices do not include, among the elements necessary for their operation, means making it possible to directly use the heated substances. Each of the elements that compose them occupies a final position, in relation to the other elements. These devices do not allow the heating of various substances. In addition, they are generally bulky and difficult to transport.

They cannot therefore be used in many circumstances where the use of solar energy would be a favorable solution.

The subject of the invention is a device making it possible not only to obtain the heating of various substances, under the effect of and solar radiation, but also allowing the substances to be used
heated. These move in the liquid, semi-solid or solid state. They can be food substances. Certain elements composing this device can have several functions.

 The solar thermal sensor according to the invention comprises at least one absorbing receiving surface and at least one transparent protective surface. I1 is characterized in that it consists of at least two, elementary containers, on the one hand at least one container which can contain the substances to be heated, this container being called an absorbing container, and on the other hand at least one container having walls transparent to solar radiation, this container being called transparent container. The absorbent container comprises absorbent walls which can heat up @@@@@@@t @@@@ the effect of solar radiation, and which can quickly transport the heat thus acquired to the substances contained, @@ other, the @its elementary receptacles can take various relative positions.

According to one of these positions, called the operating position, the receiving walls of the absorber container (s) are isolated from the outside environment by the walls of the transparent container (s), the said walls then being located at a certain distance from each other and delimiting one or more enclosed volumes which may contain, for example, air. These volumes provide thermal insulation of the absorbent receiving surfaces. When the elementary containers are in the said operating position, the function of each transparent container is that of a protective cover, in addition, the capacity of the transparent container (s) is at least within the capacity of the absorbent container (s) (9), so that all of the heated substances in the absorbent container (s) can be transported, for use, in the transparent container (s), when the elementary containers are in other relative positions.The device may contain substances
liquids, semi-solids and solids, and food substances.

According to one embodiment of the device according to the invention, when the elementary containers are in said operating position, several transparent containers are fitted together.
one inside the other, in such a way that the walls of two successive transparent containers do not touch each other and -iue the said walls and those of the absorber (s) or container (s) define a closed volute, the said volume being able to contain, for example, air. The receiving walls of the absorber container (s) are then separated from the external place by at least two insulating volumes, one of which is contained in the transparent container closest to the walls. absorbent, each of the other insulating volumes being located between two successive transparent containers.

According to another embodiment of the device according to the invention, at least one of the transparent containers comprises at least one reflecting surface arranged so as to reflect the radiation
solar towards the interior of said container, and towards the receiving surfaces of the absorbent container (s), when the elementary containers are in said operating position, and the assembly they constitute is suitably oriented. In addition to the functions already mentioned, each transparent container can have, in this case, a reflective mirror function making it possible to
reinforce the radiation received by the receiving surfaces.

 According to a variant, at least one of said reflecting surfaces has a curvature such that the reflected radiation is concentrated on certain receiving walls of the absorber container (s), when the elementary containers are in said position. operation, and that the device is properly oriented. The reflective surfaces may other, for example, be cylindrical.

 According to an advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention, the surface of the walls of the absorber container (s) (sj is greater than the minimum surface necessary to obtain a determined shape and capacity of the said container (s) absorber (3), the said walls possibly being other, for example, bumpy or corrugated, so that the contact surface between the said walls and the substances contained is very large.

According to another characteristic of the device according to the invention, the internal volume of each absorbing container communicates with the external medium through at least one orifice or duct, giving outlet to the vapor which can, possibly, arise in an absorbing container, when the elementary containers are associated in said operating position. Said duct is arranged so that this vapor cannot penetrate into the limited spaces
by transparent containers, when the elementary containers are placed in said operating position.

 According to an advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention, at least one of the transparent containers comprises flat faces and rectilinear edges which make it possible to place, on any support, and according to various equilibrium positions, the device whose elementary containers are in said operating position. In addition to the functions already mentioned, the transparent containers have, in this case, a support function making it possible to arrange the sensor according to various equilibrium positions, and to choose the most favorable orientation of the receiving surfaces, according to the height of the sun. .

According to another embodiment of the device according to the invention, at least one of the elementary containers consists of a
inflatable envelope forming a cavity, said cavity forming the interior volume of this container. The inner wall and the outer wall of this inflatable container are transparent. The volume of air contained between the transparent walls ensures thermal insulation of the receiving surfaces of the absorber container (s) which may be placed in said cavity.

 According to an alternative embodiment, at least one of the elementary containers has a transparent external wall, and an internal absorbent wall. In this case, this container can be used in two ways: on the one hand, as a transparent container containing an absorbent container, and on the other hand, as an absorbent container.

 According to another advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention, the elementary containers can be assembled and separated at will, and the transparent containers have a shape and dimensions such that they can be nested one inside the other, when '' they are separate from the absorber container (s).

 According to another characteristic of the device according to the invention, it comprises a means making it possible to maintain the associated elementary containers in said operating position, and means making it possible to carry and suspend the assembly thus formed.

According to an embodiment of the device according to the invention, the walls of the elementary containers consist of a
material having the qualities required to contain food substances brought to the maximum temperature which can be reached inside the absorbent containers.

 According to an advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention, the walls of the transparent containers are made of a material transparent to solar radiation, and having the qualities required to reflect the infrared rayore.ement emitted by the heated absorbent walls. A reinforced greenhouse effect is thus kept.

 The device according to the invention has several advantages. Liquid, semi-liquid and solid substances, heated under the effect of solar radiation, can be directly used, in one or the other of the elementary containers. Water heated in an absorbent container can be poured into a transparent bowl-shaped container. Food substances can be stored, transported, then heated or reheated, and finally placed in one of the containers, for consumption. The shape given to the device makes it possible to obtain a favorable orientation of the receiving surfaces, under various conditions d An aporozimative orientation is sufficient to obtain the desired effect, and this sensor can therefore be used on a moving support, on a vehicle or on a boat, for example. In addition, the plurality of elementary containers makes it possible to use the hot substances poured into a transparent container separated from the assembly, while the other elementary containers being still or again in the operating position, other substances can be heated or kept at the desired temperature. Continuous use of the device is therefore possible.

The temperature at which hot water and various foods are commonly used can be reached quickly.

The invention can be better understood, in its multiple embodiments, with the aid of the additional description which follows, and with reference to the appended drawings, in which
- Figures 1 and 2 of Plate 1 schematically represent an absorbing container and three associated transparent containers, according to a first embodiment of a device according to the invention.

Figure 1 is a schematic section of the device placed on a support.

Figure 2 is a top view of the same embodiment.

 - Figure) of Plate 2 shows schematically, according to a second embodiment of a device according to the invention, three absorbing containers and three associated transparent containers.

 - Figure 4 of Plate 2 schematically shows, according to a third embodiment of a device according to the invention, an absorbent container fitted into a transparent inflatable container.

 These drawings, as well as the corresponding descriptive parts, are given solely by way of illustration of the subject of the invention, of which they do not in any way constitute a limitation.

Figures 1 and 2 of Plate 1 illustrate a first embodiment of a device according to the invention. An absorbent container
(1) and three transparent containers (2 a), (2 b) and (2 c) are associated in the operating position. The absorber container (1) has the general shape of a parallelepiped. The two larger walls are absorbent. They are covered with a dark colored belt, or with a selective film. They can be bumpy or wavy. The other walls are thermally insulated from the outside environment by an appropriate coating.

 Each transparent container (2) has a flat rectangular bottom and four sides, each forming an obtuse angle with the bottom. When the elementary containers are combined in the operating position, the edge of each transparent container, or bowl, is fitted onto a slightly elastic bead (3), integral with one of the absorbent faces of the container (1). One of the absorbent faces is covered by the bowl (2b), the second absorbent face is covered by the cups (2a) and (2c), one containing the other. The interlocking bowls are not in contact with each other. The beads (3) prevent the circulation of air between the interior volume of each bowl and the exterior. The upper wall of the absorber container has at least one orifice which can be closed by a plug (4), which is crossed by a dormant hole (5) issuing from the vapor which may possibly form in this container. A handle (6) allows the assembly to be carried.

The elementary containers can be easily separated, and the transparent containers have relative dimensions such that they can then be nested one inside the other.

 All the walls of the smallest bowl (2b) are transparent.

Each of the other two bowls (2 a) and (2 c) has two side walls coated with a reflective film. When the elementary containers are assembled and the absorbing container (1) rests on its own bottom, one of the reflecting walls of each bowl is located below the other walls of the same bowl, and the second reflecting wall is located laterally . The radiation received by the reflecting surfaces (7) can thus further be returned to the sorbent walls ah of the container (1), when the device is suitably oriented.

 When the elementary containers are assembled, the assembly may further be placed on the floor, or on any support, of several sanitary ware. The absorber container (1) can rest on its own bottom or on one of its side faces. The assembly can also rest on the bottom of one of the transparent containers, the volume of air contained therein ensuring thermal insulation of the absorbent wall oriented towards the support. The assembly can finally rest on one of the edges of the bottom of the absorbent container and on one of the sides of one of the bowls.

This oblique position is shown in Figure 1. The device can therefore be oriented, according to the height of the sun, so that one of the absorbing faces receives solar radiation at a favorable angle.

 The absorber container (î) may contain a liquid. It can be filled and emptied when the elementary containers are assembled. In addition, it is possible to empty the heated contents of the absorbent container into a transparent bowl, then fill the absorbent container in order to obtain the heating of a new content, each absorbent wall still being covered by a transparent container.

 According to a variant of this exemplary embodiment, each of the absorbent walls is isolated from the external environment by several transparent containers contained in each other. A volume of air is reserved between the walls of two successive transparent containers.

 According to another alternative embodiment, an absorbent container can have an approximately cubic shape, and comprise at least four absorbent faces, each of said faces being protected by at least one transparent container.

 Figure 3 of Plate 2 illustrates a second embodiment of a device according to the invention. Three tapered absorber containers (1 a), (1 b), (1 c) form a volume also tapered when coaxially assembled. The transparent containers (2 a), (2 b), (2 c) are cylindrical. The edge of the cylindrical wall of each transparent container can be fitted onto an annular bead (3), fixed on the conical wall of an absorbent container, near the large base thereof. in the operating position, the transparent containers are contained in each other, each of them being associated with an absorbent container. A certain distance is reserved between the walls of the transparent containers.

The internal volume of each absorbing container (1) communicates with the external medium through a conduit (8) opening to the outside of the assembled containers. The vapor, which may possibly form in the absorbent vessels, thus cannot escape without passing through
the volumes of air contained in the transparent containers.

 The largest transparent container (2 c) has a reflecting surface (7), located between two generatrices of the cylindrical wall, and representing a little less than half of the surface of this wall. All the elementary containers are kept associated by fixing means (9), such as clips or staples, which connect the largest transparent container (2 c) and the largest absorbing container (1 c).

 When the elementary containers are assembled and suitably oriented, part of the conical absorbent surface receives the direct radiation, another part receiving the radiation reflected and concentrated by the reflecting surface (7). The device can also be oriented so that the entire conical absorbent surface receives direct radiation.

 The smallest absorbent container (1 a) is isolated from the external environment by three layers of air, the container (1 b) is isolated by two layers of air, and the largest absorbent container (1 c) is isolated by a single layer of air. The containers can be thermally insulated from each other, so that the temperatures obtained can be appreciably different, after a certain period of operation, in each of them. According to another solution, the bottoms and lids of these containers could be constituted by a material which is good conductor of heat, in order to obtain a substantially equivalent temperature in all the absorbent containers.

 According to a variant of this example, the device can be composed of a single frustoconical absorber container, covered by one or more transparent cylindrical containers.

 Figure 4 of Plate 2 illustrates another embodiment of a device according to the invention. A cylindrical absorber container (1) is placed inside an inflatable cylindrical container (2), the internal and external walls (lo a) and (10 b) are transparent.

 According to a variant, the inflatable container (2) has an outer wall (10 b) transparent and an inner wall (10 a) absorbent. The latter must be, over its entire surface, in contact with the absorbent wall of the container (1). This inflatable container (2) can also constitute an autonomous sensor container.

 According to another variant, a rigid transparent container has two walls containing a volute of air. The external paroli is transparent.

The internal wall can be transparent, or absorbent.

 According to another exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention, the elementary containers can take various relative positions, while remaining associated. Each transparent container is connected to an absorbing container by means of a joint such as a hinge. This connection makes it possible to obtain, on the one hand the relative operating position, on the other hand a favorable position for using the heated substances.

According to another exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention, this constitutes a heating package, formed of absorbent envelopes contained in transparent envelopes. Each absorbent envelope is isolated from the transparent envelope that contains it
by an air layer, and is not in contact with it, except possibly at a few points. The transparent outer shell may have a reflective surface. The whole can be protected by an opaque envelope, which will be removed to obtain the heating of the contents.

It follows from the above that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described, but embraces all the variants and modifications which may be conceived by those skilled in the art, as regards the shapes, dimensions and arrangements. different elements,
the materials used in manufacturing, as well as the details of construction.

 The device, object of the invention, can constitute practical equipment for camping, picnics, boating, mountaineering, for heating water and various foods. winters models of water heaters and household equipment for hot countries can be designed. A heating package could contain, for example, prepared meals, survival rations.

Claims (10)

R E V E N D I C A T I O N S  1 - Solar thermal sensor comprising absorbing receiving surfaces and transparent protective covers, characterized in that it comprises at least two elementary containers, that is on the one hand, at least one absorbing container (1) containing the substances to be heated and comprising receiving walls which can heat up quickly under the effect of the solar ray and quickly transmit the heat thus acquired to the substances which it contains, and on the other hand, at least one container (2) comprising transparent walls and called container transparent2 in that it comprises a means allowing to line, at will, the said elementary containers according to several relative positions, in that, according to one of the said relative positions, calls the operating position, the receiving walls of the container (s) (s) absorber (s) (1) are isolated from the external environment by the walls of the transparent container (s) (2), the said receiving walls and the walls of the transparent container (s) being located at a certain distance from each other and delimiting at least one enclosed space, and in that, according to other relative positions, the transparent container (s) ( s) can receive and contain the heated substances in the absorber container (s).  2 - Solar thermal sensor according to claim 1, further characterized in that, when said elementary containers are placed in said operating position, au. at least two transparent containers (2) are fitted together and associated with the absorber container (s) (1) so that two successive transparent containers are not in contact with each other, and that their walls define an enclosed space.  3 - Solar thermal sensor according to claim 1 or 2, further characterized in that at least one of the transparent containers (2) has at least one reflective surface (7), which is arranged so that the solar radiation that 'it receives can be reflected towards the receiving surfaces of the absorber (s) (s) (1), when the elementary containers are in said operating position.  4 - Solar thermal sensor according to claim 3, further characterized in that said reflecting surface (7) has a curvature such that the reflected radiation can be concentrated on the receiving walls of the absorber (s) or receptacle (s) (1), when the elementary containers are in said operating position.  5 - Solar thermal sensor according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further characterized in that the surface of the walls of the absorber container (s) (1) is greater than the minimum surface necessary to obtain a shape and a determined capacity of said container (s).  6 - Solar thermal sensor according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized "further in that the internal volteme of each absorbing container (1) communicates with the external medium by at least one orifice or conduit (5, 8), whatever is the relative position of the elementary receptacles, and in that, when the elementary receptacles are in said operating position, no communication is established between the absorber (s) and the transparent container (s).  7 - Solar thermal sensor according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further characterized in that, when the elementary containers are associated according to said operating position, the device can have several positions of equilibrium, the surfaces absorbing able between arranged in various orientations, with respect to the horizontal.  8 - Solar thermal sensor according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further characterized in that at least one of the elementary containers is constituted by an inflatable envelope forming a cavity, in that the outer wall and the inner wall of this inflatable container are transparent to solar radiation.  9 - Solar thermal sensor according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further characterized in that at least one of the elementary containers has an internal wall and an external wall defining an enclosed space, in that the external wall is transparent , and in that the internal wall is absorbent.  10 - Solar thermal sensor according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further characterized in that it comprises a means making it possible to assemble and separate at will said elementary containers, and in that the transparent containers (2) are nestled into each other.